Connecting-slide.



B. C. ROGKWELL.

GONNEGTING SLIDE.

APPLxoATIoN HLBD Mmm, 190e.

9"?5601 Patented July 13, 1909.

maamtoz UNTED STATES PATENT FFCE.

BYRD C. ROCKWELL, OF MALVERN, ARKANSAS.

CONNECTING-SLIDE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BYRD C. ROoKwnLL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Malvern, in the county of Hot Spring and State of Arkansas, have invented a new and useful Connecting-Slide, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to connecting slides for holding two or more objects yieldingly in contact and at the same time permitting independent movement of the objects in parallel planes.

One of the objects of the invention is to yieldingly but firmly bind the objects together while permitting extensible adjustment thereof, the slide rigidly holding the objects together and at the same time producing the minimum friction during the movement of the parts.

The slide is particularly designed for use to connect the movable sections of window screens and the like although it can also be etlectually used wherever it is desired to yieldingly but lirmly hold together independently movable extensible objects.

A further object is to provide a device of this character designed to adapt itself automatically to any expansion or contraction of the objects to which the slide is connected.

A further object is toprovide a connecting slide which is simple, durable, and elficient, can be manufactured at slight cost, and is wholly concealed between the objects to which it is connected.

Vith these and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings is shown the preferred form of the invention.

In said drawings: Figure l is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of the adjoining portions of the upper rails of a window screen or other similar structure, one of the runners being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the two rails and showing the runner in end elevation. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of one of the runners detached. Fig. 4t is a plan view thereof. Fig. 5 is an elevation of a modified form of runner, the same being shown .in position upon movably connected rails, one of the rails being shown in section.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. March 2, 1908.

Patented July 18, 1909.

Serial No. 418,815.

Referring to the several parts by characters of reference, A and B constitute the two independently movable sections which lap and have their inner or adjoining faces provided with registering three-way grooves l and 2 respectively extending longitudinally therein. A pair of transverse grooves 3 is formed wit-hin the inner face of each section A and B and extends to the groove l or 2. Each of these grooves 3 is designed to receive stems -lhaving prongs -it extending therefrom. rlhese stems 1l are located at 'the ends of a spring wire which is curved in a plane perpendicular to the terminals 4 so as to form hook-like portions 5 designed to tit within the registering portions of the grooves l and Q as indicated in Fig. 2. Each of these hook-like portions terminates in a loop or eye G disposed in a plane parallel with the inner faces of the sections A and B and the two loops are connected by the intermediate. portion of the wire which is bowed as at 7 to constitute the runner proper'. By shaping the runner in the manner described the same is designed to bear at three points upon the inner or horizontal portions of the adjoining slot l or 2, the same bearing within said slot at the points which have been indicated by the letters o., o, and c. The diameter of each loop (3 is greater than the width of the outer portion of each slot l and 2 so that after the runner T of these loops has been inserted into the inner portion of the slot. 1 or 2 it becomes impossible to pull the two members A and B apart laterally. As heretofore stated one of these combined connecting devices and runners is to be fastened to the inner face of each member A and B. The runner which is fastened to the member A is designed to travel within the groove 2 in member B and that runner which is fastened to the member B is designed to travel in the groove l in member A. It will be apparent therefore that when the two ruuners have been seated in their grooves by shifting the members A and B longitudinally toward each other so that the same will lap, the runners serve to hold the two members light-ly in contact and inasmuch as the ent-ire runner is formed of spring wire it will be apparent that each will exert a constant pressure against the opposite walls of the groove at the points a, and c. Should the groove increase or diminish in size according to the climatic conditions, this runner will adapt itself automatically thereto so that the bearings at the three points will be maintained and the members and B be properly held together at all times without, however, binding to such an extent as to interfere with the convenient adjustment of the rail. members A and B. The hook-like portiors of the runners serve to yieldingly bind the members A and B together and should these members expand or contract these hook portions 5 will correspondingly expand or contract so as to adapt themselves to the members. lt is of course to be understood that the terminals et are to be seated in the grooves 3 and secured by driving the prongs l into the section A. Staples 8 can also be used as shown.

lf preferred, and as shown in Fig. 5, the runner may consist of a waved spring wire Q having three bearing points d, e and designed to bear against opposite walls of the groove in one of the members A and a stem l0 may be extended laterally from one end only of this runner and its prong driven into the member B.

lt will be seen that connecting means such as herein described will securely hold the sections A and B together and inasmuch as said conncting means is capable of adapting litself to the contraction and expansion of the parts it will be seen thatthere is no danger of the parts binding together to such an objectionable extent as to interfere with the convenient adjustment of the members. lmportanee is attached to the construction because it not only serves to tic the members together but also yieldingly bind them together under all conditions.

That is claimed is:

l. A ruimer' comprising a bowed portion having an intermediate and terminal bearing points, a terminal portion extending at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the runner, and means between the bowed and terminal portions of the runner for permitting said terminal portion to yield independently of the bowed portion.

Q. The combination with lapping longitudinally slotted members; of a resilient runner secured to one of said members and mounted to travel within the groove in the other member, said runner bearing at an intermediate point upon one wall of the groove and at opposite sides of said intermediate point against the opposite wall of the groove.

3. The combination with lapping longitudinally slotted members; of means connected to one of the members and mounted within the groove in the other member for yieldingly holding said members in contact, said means yieldingly contacting with opposite walls of the groove in which it is mounted, the points of contact with one wall being spaced apart and the point of contact with the other wall being interposed between said first-mentioned points of contact.

il.n rfhe combination with longitudinally slotted lapping members; of a resilient bowed runner within t-he slot of one of the members and bearing at an intermediate point upon one wall of the slot and at opposite sides of said point against the opposite wall of the slot, said runner having an integral portion extending into both of the slots and secured to the other member, said portion being yieldable independently of the runner.

The combination with longitudinally slotted lapping members; of a yieldable bowed ruimer within the slot in one of the members and bearing at an intermediate point upon one wall of the slot and at opposite sides of said intermediate point upon the opposite wall of said slot, and means extending from the runner and secured to the other member.

G. A runner comprising a bowed portion having an intermediate and terminal bearing points, a yieldable laterally extending hook portion, a stem extending from the hook portion, and a prong upon the stem for engagement with supporting means.

7. A runner comprising a waved resilient strip, the waved portions thereof being disposed in the same plane and forming spaced opposed bearing points, and a terminal stem integral with said runner.

S. A runner for window screens comprising a waved resilient strip, the waved portions thereof being disposed in the same plane and forming spaced opposed bearing points, and a terminal stem integral with the runner and extending therefrom at an angle to the longitudinal axis thereof.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

BYRD C. ROCKVELL.

lVitnesses:

H. A. STnvnNs, I. V. hliLLnn. 

